To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Balancing marriage, class
Although it's not the norm, about 2,200 USC students, or 6 percent of the student population, are married.
By CARLEY DRYDEN
Contributing Writer
Sandra Altamirano begins her day like many other USC students. She rolls out of bed after hitting the snooze button a few times, hops in the shower, gets ready for school, grabs her car keys — and then kisses her husband, still snug in their bed.
While being married during college may not be the norm, Sandra is just one of the roughly 2,200 married students at USC — about 6 percent of the total student population — said Ray Gonzales, the director of research and reporting at the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
Sandra, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, is proud of Xavier Altamirano, her husband of four months.
“Some students look at me like I’m crazy for being married so young. I
used to be like a lot of people. 1 mapped out my life in a timeline. I said 1 wanted
to get my degree, start my career, get married and then have children," she said.
'That sounds smart and reasonable. However, life had different plans
for me.”
Sandra joined the Army in 1999, and in the six years since, completed two years worth of college, toured Kosovo and Iraq, where she met Xavier, a Marine, and decided to follow her dream of attending USC. She transferred to USC in February and now juggles homework. Army Reserves,
Army ROTC, a part time job and, of course, spending time with Xavier.
With a life like hers, it’s hard to believe it does not take a toll on her marriage. Yet, she says it doesn’t
“To be honest it's not that hard balancing marriage and school because Xavier is not only my husband, but he is my best friend. You have to be in a marriage. We support each other as much as possible and have fun whenever possible,” she said.
So happy together. Eddie Arango, a graduate policy, planning and development student, walks around the USC campus with his wife, Ann, and 2-year-old son, Lucas. Eddie and Ann Arango have been married for four years.
Eddie Arango knows just what Sandra’s life as a married student is like. Not only is he married, but he also has a two-and a-half-year-old son. Eddie, a graduate student studying public policy, planning and manage-
ment at USC is also a full-time realtor, full-time student and a full-time dad.
Eddie, who's been married to his wife Ann for four years, said he finds it difficult to find a balance between his school and home life.
“It takes endurance. It's hard to stay awake in class when 1 was up late cleaning up baby vomit and writing a paper, and when I had a closing earlier that day,” Eddie said.
I see Marrlag* page 7 I
Officials
discuss
terrorist
measures
Defense and aerospace company representatives presented products and ideas to protect citizens.
By JODIE OXMAN
Contributing Writer
The British Consulate-General and USC held a symposium Thursday, bringing together counter-terrorism leaders to discuss new security technologies in order to protect citizens in the battle against terrorism.
Representatives from major defense and aerospace companies as well as National Laboratories made
presenUtioiu about their laU«l prod-
ucts and ideas for new security measures at the Davidson Conference Center throughout the day.
The United Kingdom has experienced a great deal of terrorism in the past, making them leaders in counterterrorism technology development and practice said Brian Conley, deputy consul-general from the British Consulate-General.
The purpose of the symposium was to hopefully encourage collaboration of U.K companies and U.S. companies, said Kelly Gribben. public communications manager of Homeland Security Center for Risk & Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events.
Gribben said that the British Consulate-General and USC partnered to put on this event in an attempt to bring trade delegations to the United States.
CREATE is the first university center of excellence to be funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland I see Symposium 3age 7 I
INDEX
N
^ Interfaith retreat aimed to solidify group
The No. 3 men 's water polo team begins its season down south against UC Irvine. 12
Somerville Place in Fluor Tower encourages diversity. 4
Newt Digest..1 Sports—_ 12
Upcoming-----2 Classified*—...®
Opinion*_____4 Ufutyk S
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny. Htgh of 74. low of 58 Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High 71. low 57.
The group aims to dispel ignorance about the different kinds of religious traditions and practices that exist on campus.
By JOANNA WU
Staff Writer
Vidhya Navalpakkam, a graduate student studying computer science, told her friends that she couldn't back out of the retreat She wanted to spend time with her friends for Labor Day weekend, but was already scheduled to spend it with the Interfaith Council
It was absolutely amazing,* Navalpakkam said *1 had honestly not imagined that it would be even halt or a quarter, as good as it was, which was great"
Navalpakkam, student leader of The Natural Path, an interfiuth group that practices meditation, is one of four board mem ben on the Interfaith Council, a group of students represent-
ing different faiths on campus. She and
15 other students spent Sunday and Monday on a retreat at Rev. Elizabeth Davenport's cabin in Kemville, Calif. Davenport is the associate dean of religious life.
The weekend retreat was just one of several ways the Interfaith Council hopes to solidify the group and help increase its visibility on campus.
The Interfaith Council is made up of
16 students representing different religions on campus, including Hinduism. Catholicism. Buddhism. Islam and the Latter-day Saints. Some students are considered freelance and may come from a mued religious background. Participating members are either nominated or selected by the board.
"In the past few years, nobody has
felt like it’s been a solid group." said Jonathan Stein, a junior ma|onng in cinema television critical studies and chairman of the council. “Nobody has felt like they needed to be responsible in terms of showing up to meetings to helping to coordinate events and stuff like that”
This year, the Interfaith Council hopes to expand their reach, going from being known for the Multi-Faith Celebration and other Religion on Campus events, to establishing themselves as an umbrella organization for all campus religious groups.
Part of the purpose of the retreat was for members to explore the ques tion “Why are we here?"
One of the reasons is to dispel ignorance about the many different kinds of religious traditions and practices that exist on campus, and to speak to the negative aspects of religion. Davenport said.
“It was just a very conducive atmosphere for them to talk and get to know each other better," she said.
When dealing with the interfaith group, one has to deal with sensitive topics that mean a lot to people. Stem said.
“We need to build trust before we can move forward doing other things." Stein said.
Hazan Qazi. a sophomore mapnng in biology and a member of the Muslim Student Union, said he was hesitant about going on the retreat because he didn't know anyone.
He later found that it was beneficial for the group as well as the individuals. Qazi said
The Muslim Student Union wanted to have a representative participate in this council because of the importance of open dialogue and overcoming cer tain stigmas and misconceptions, Qazi
I
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
dailytrojan.com
September 9, 2005
Vol. CXLVII. No. 13
INSIDE
Kanye West, Maroon 5 and
others helped the NFL kick off its season. 5

Balancing marriage, class
Although it's not the norm, about 2,200 USC students, or 6 percent of the student population, are married.
By CARLEY DRYDEN
Contributing Writer
Sandra Altamirano begins her day like many other USC students. She rolls out of bed after hitting the snooze button a few times, hops in the shower, gets ready for school, grabs her car keys — and then kisses her husband, still snug in their bed.
While being married during college may not be the norm, Sandra is just one of the roughly 2,200 married students at USC — about 6 percent of the total student population — said Ray Gonzales, the director of research and reporting at the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
Sandra, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, is proud of Xavier Altamirano, her husband of four months.
“Some students look at me like I’m crazy for being married so young. I
used to be like a lot of people. 1 mapped out my life in a timeline. I said 1 wanted
to get my degree, start my career, get married and then have children," she said.
'That sounds smart and reasonable. However, life had different plans
for me.”
Sandra joined the Army in 1999, and in the six years since, completed two years worth of college, toured Kosovo and Iraq, where she met Xavier, a Marine, and decided to follow her dream of attending USC. She transferred to USC in February and now juggles homework. Army Reserves,
Army ROTC, a part time job and, of course, spending time with Xavier.
With a life like hers, it’s hard to believe it does not take a toll on her marriage. Yet, she says it doesn’t
“To be honest it's not that hard balancing marriage and school because Xavier is not only my husband, but he is my best friend. You have to be in a marriage. We support each other as much as possible and have fun whenever possible,” she said.
So happy together. Eddie Arango, a graduate policy, planning and development student, walks around the USC campus with his wife, Ann, and 2-year-old son, Lucas. Eddie and Ann Arango have been married for four years.
Eddie Arango knows just what Sandra’s life as a married student is like. Not only is he married, but he also has a two-and a-half-year-old son. Eddie, a graduate student studying public policy, planning and manage-
ment at USC is also a full-time realtor, full-time student and a full-time dad.
Eddie, who's been married to his wife Ann for four years, said he finds it difficult to find a balance between his school and home life.
“It takes endurance. It's hard to stay awake in class when 1 was up late cleaning up baby vomit and writing a paper, and when I had a closing earlier that day,” Eddie said.
I see Marrlag* page 7 I
Officials
discuss
terrorist
measures
Defense and aerospace company representatives presented products and ideas to protect citizens.
By JODIE OXMAN
Contributing Writer
The British Consulate-General and USC held a symposium Thursday, bringing together counter-terrorism leaders to discuss new security technologies in order to protect citizens in the battle against terrorism.
Representatives from major defense and aerospace companies as well as National Laboratories made
presenUtioiu about their laU«l prod-
ucts and ideas for new security measures at the Davidson Conference Center throughout the day.
The United Kingdom has experienced a great deal of terrorism in the past, making them leaders in counterterrorism technology development and practice said Brian Conley, deputy consul-general from the British Consulate-General.
The purpose of the symposium was to hopefully encourage collaboration of U.K companies and U.S. companies, said Kelly Gribben. public communications manager of Homeland Security Center for Risk & Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events.
Gribben said that the British Consulate-General and USC partnered to put on this event in an attempt to bring trade delegations to the United States.
CREATE is the first university center of excellence to be funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland I see Symposium 3age 7 I
INDEX
N
^ Interfaith retreat aimed to solidify group
The No. 3 men 's water polo team begins its season down south against UC Irvine. 12
Somerville Place in Fluor Tower encourages diversity. 4
Newt Digest..1 Sports—_ 12
Upcoming-----2 Classified*—...®
Opinion*_____4 Ufutyk S
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny. Htgh of 74. low of 58 Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High 71. low 57.
The group aims to dispel ignorance about the different kinds of religious traditions and practices that exist on campus.
By JOANNA WU
Staff Writer
Vidhya Navalpakkam, a graduate student studying computer science, told her friends that she couldn't back out of the retreat She wanted to spend time with her friends for Labor Day weekend, but was already scheduled to spend it with the Interfaith Council
It was absolutely amazing,* Navalpakkam said *1 had honestly not imagined that it would be even halt or a quarter, as good as it was, which was great"
Navalpakkam, student leader of The Natural Path, an interfiuth group that practices meditation, is one of four board mem ben on the Interfaith Council, a group of students represent-
ing different faiths on campus. She and
15 other students spent Sunday and Monday on a retreat at Rev. Elizabeth Davenport's cabin in Kemville, Calif. Davenport is the associate dean of religious life.
The weekend retreat was just one of several ways the Interfaith Council hopes to solidify the group and help increase its visibility on campus.
The Interfaith Council is made up of
16 students representing different religions on campus, including Hinduism. Catholicism. Buddhism. Islam and the Latter-day Saints. Some students are considered freelance and may come from a mued religious background. Participating members are either nominated or selected by the board.
"In the past few years, nobody has
felt like it’s been a solid group." said Jonathan Stein, a junior ma|onng in cinema television critical studies and chairman of the council. “Nobody has felt like they needed to be responsible in terms of showing up to meetings to helping to coordinate events and stuff like that”
This year, the Interfaith Council hopes to expand their reach, going from being known for the Multi-Faith Celebration and other Religion on Campus events, to establishing themselves as an umbrella organization for all campus religious groups.
Part of the purpose of the retreat was for members to explore the ques tion “Why are we here?"
One of the reasons is to dispel ignorance about the many different kinds of religious traditions and practices that exist on campus, and to speak to the negative aspects of religion. Davenport said.
“It was just a very conducive atmosphere for them to talk and get to know each other better," she said.
When dealing with the interfaith group, one has to deal with sensitive topics that mean a lot to people. Stem said.
“We need to build trust before we can move forward doing other things." Stein said.
Hazan Qazi. a sophomore mapnng in biology and a member of the Muslim Student Union, said he was hesitant about going on the retreat because he didn't know anyone.
He later found that it was beneficial for the group as well as the individuals. Qazi said
The Muslim Student Union wanted to have a representative participate in this council because of the importance of open dialogue and overcoming cer tain stigmas and misconceptions, Qazi
I
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
dailytrojan.com
September 9, 2005
Vol. CXLVII. No. 13
INSIDE
Kanye West, Maroon 5 and
others helped the NFL kick off its season. 5